Barely a week goes by without Warner Bros. Discovery tinkering with its international offering and this past one was no different, as it exited its shareholding in fledgling UK news network GB News and said goodbye to HBO Max International Originals chief Jennifer Kim. Discovery (as it was then known) backed GB News with fanfare last year but the network has been beset with problems – technical, ratings and political – and has become something of a poisoned chalice. The channel was lent early authority as it was driven by feared British broadcasting heavyweight Andrew Neil but within weeks he was out, and, within months, he was chastizing the network for being a “UKIP tribute band.” Warner Bros. Discovery’s shareholding has been bought out by existing backers Legatum Ventures Limited and Sir Paul Marshall, who have led a £60M ($72M) funding round and, with new faces in the form of the likes of former Tory minister-turned-cheery-documentary-host Michael Portillo, the channel for now more than lives on.Across the pond, Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva had all the details on the circa-70 HBO Max layoffs that included SVP International Originals Jennifer Kim. Kim’s departure will ramp up the importance of Gerhard Zeiler’s international team, according to the memo from HBO Max chief Casey Bloys, which will be left solely responsible for pursuing non-U.S. opportunities, taking advantage of a sizeable international footprint that is nonetheless itself being parred down. Individual drama and comedy teams will evaluate potential co-productions and pitch to the U.S.. Kim was responsible for acclaimed co-productions including Russell T Davies’ Aids drama It’s a Sin and leaves at the same time as the likes of Jennifer O’Connell EVP, Non-Fiction & Live-Action Family Originals for HBO Max; Michael Quigley, EVP of Content Acquisitions at HBO Max; and Linda Lowy, EVP Casting for HBO Max, TNT, TBS and truTV. Setting out the thinking behind the decision, Bloys wrote: “Unfortunately, the environment in which we operate is changing rapidly, and it is up to us to continue to refine our model to chart a course for long term success.” Change is afoot, as ever, at the new conglomerate.
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